Spring-latch.



PATENTED APR. 3, 1906.

J. L. ZESIGBR.

SPRING LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1904.

IN VEN TOR. BY 9; 7

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WITNESSES. W W

UNITED STATES Parana clarion.

SPRING-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

Application filed January 13, 1904. Serial No. 188,907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. ZESIGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Latches; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to spring-latches; and the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, substantially as shown and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device complete. Fig. 2 is a lengthwise sectional elevation thereof and showing a section of door to which it is attached, as Well as a section of door jamb or casing and a catch thereon for thelatch. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sliding lock for the latch, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the body or base of the latch mechanism.

As thus shown the entire device comprises only four separate parts or piecesviz., the body B, the latch proper, L, the spring S, and lock C, while a suitable catch F on the casing G is in position to be engaged by latch L. In all this construction I have sought utility, joined with simplicity and cheapness. To these ends I make the body B of the device wholly out of one piece of suitable sheet metal, which is struck up in a die or dies to the exact shape shown. In this shape or form the middle portion of the body is cut out from end to end except that at each end there is thrown up a cross-bridge 2 and 3, respectively, in which are depressions 4 to receive the ends of a flat spring S. In addition to this there are two ears 5 about midway of said body lengthwise thrown up at right angles to its base out of said cut-away middle portion and provided each with an oblong slot or hole 6.

Latch L has rounded lugs or projections 7 at each side, onwhich it is pivotally supported in slots 6 of ears 5, the spring S bearing constantly against the catch and holding it normally in the upper portion of said slots.-

Said latch is provided with a slightly-rounded bearing-surface resting against the said spring and extending on both sides beyond its pivot-point, so that as the latch is rocked on its pivots or trunnions 7 when it is opened and closed the spring S will restore the latch to normal position, as seen in Fig. 2. The latch L is thus in a sense seated on spring S, and said spring exerts a constant action upon it and yet leaves it free to be tilted backward and forward, as occurs in making engagement and disengagement with fixed catch F on the casing G.

The point of engagement of latch L With catch F is off the center of pivot of the latch, so that if a pull be made on door A the engagement of the latch upon the catch will automatically surrender and the door can be thrown open. Then as the door is swung again to a closing position the latch will autonflatically engage as before and hold the door s ut.

Obviously this device may be secured on doors, gates, shutters, and other swinging members requiring temporary latching and is designed to be variously used; but it has especial adaptability and utility in connection With screen-doors.

The sliding lock O is struck up from a single piece of sheet metal and has a width adapting it to slide within the parallel interior edges 1) of the body B. Across the front of said lock is an upturned portion 0, cut away at its base to enter spring S and adapted to engage beneath shoulder 9 on the heel of latch L and prevent said latch being swung back or disengaged from catch F. A tongue 10 on the lock extends in beneath bridge 2 of the base and bears against said bridge, Fig. 2, and a back-lapped and turned-up extremity 12 serves to grip the lock with the fingers and slide it back and forth.

What I claim is 1. In spring-latches, a body part struck from sheet metal and having-raised crossbridges at its ends and slotted ears between said bridges at right angles to the base of said body, a fiat spring resting upon said bridges, a latch pivoted in said ears and resting upon said spring and having a heel behind its pivot, and a slidinglock having a raised portion engaged over said spring and adapted to engage under the said heel and thus lock the latch, substantially as described.

2. A spring-latch comprising a body with cross-bridges at its ends and ears at its sides,

a spring on said bridges and a latch pivoted In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence o1 two witnesses.

JOHN L. ZESIGER.

WVitnesses:

R. B. MosER, C, A. SELL. 

